Milling-machine attachment for lathes



March 16., 1926. 1,576,719

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M. J. CHAPLIN MILLING MACHINE ATTACHMENT FOR LATHES Filed May 1, 1922 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 '1U I E m IIV' I AP14/Vif Y J. C/'HPL/H.

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M. J. CHAPLIN MILLING MACHINE ATTACHMENT FOR LATHES Filed May 1, 1922 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 IIIVEUI1 y MANLEY J. CHAPA/N.

March 16 1926.

M. J. CHAPLlN MILLING MACHINE ATTACHMENT FOR LATHEs Filed May 1, 1922 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 man Mula f 2a gy brlzg s.

March 164,'1926.

, M. J. CHAPLIN MILLING MACHINE ATTACHMENT FOR LATHx-:s

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March 16 1926. 1,576,719

M. J. CHAPLIN MILLING MACHINE ATTACHMENT FOR LATHES Filed May 1, 1922 I I '7 Sheets-Sheet '7 Patented Mar. 1e, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFi'c'E.

MALEY J. CHAPLIN, F SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOB 0F ONE-HALF T0 ALFRED J. BAYLEY, OF BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA.

MILLING-MACHINE Ar'rAc'HmENT ron Larmes.

Application led Hay l, 1922. Serial No. 557,623.

ments forLathes, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machine tools and particularly to a mil ing attachment for lathes.

The object of the present invention is to generally improve and simplify tools of the character described; to provide a structureu which permits the toolto be quickly attached or removed with relation to the carriage of a lathe; a tool adapted to be actuated and driven by the lathe; to provide a tool whereby a lathe may be adapted for gear cutting and other milling operations, a tool provided with micrometer adjustments, permitting work of an exacting nature to be handled, and further to provide means wherebyl the work may be rigidly' supported and se-v cured during the milling operation.

The invention 'more specifically stated contemplates an attachment for lathes which may be mounted on thelathe carriage and connected to the transverse'feed screw in lieu of the usualompound rest. The attachment is also 'adapted to properly support and secure gear blanks and is provided withan indexing device and feed mechanism Ywhereby the spacing and depth of the teeth cut inthe .blank may be accurately determined and adjusted.

The invention further provides means for supporting and propelling a milling cutter, and for .vertically and angularly positioning the work with relation to the mil ling cutter, thus permitting worm gear blanks andthe like to be rough cut or gashed and succeeded by a finishing operation. The tool also4 permits the attachment of a milling table for the reception and support ofwork other than gear blanks.

l One form which the invention may assume is exemplied in' the following description and illustrated `by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a view in transverse section -through `a lathe bed, disclosing the millig attachmentv inside elevation; the attachment being in this instance mounted onthe lathe carriage andsupportin a gear blank which is being fed ov-er a mi ling cutter mounted and driven by the lathe mandrel.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of Fig.' 1.

Figs. 3' and 4 are detail views disclosing.

the indexing head.

Fig. 5 is aside elevation of the milling attachment mounted on the lathe carriage and supporting a milling table. upon which is secured a shaft.-

Fi 6 is a detail plan 'view of the micrometer ial employed to determine the amount of movement imparted to the spindle head during vertical adjustment thereof.

Fig.'7 is a detail cross section of the index head showing the position of the vertical feed screw with relation thereto.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of-a lathe illustrating Figs.' 13 and 14 are side and end elevations,

respectively, discosing the automatic cut otl employed in connection with the cross 'ecd. Fig. 15 is a detail view of the cross eed clutch mechanism. A W

Referring to the drawings in detail, and particularly to Figs. 1, 2and 8, A indicates the ways of a standard form of lathe, 2 the lathe carriage, 3 the tail stock, 4 the head stock, 5 the lathe spindle drivenby the multi-step cone pulley 6, 7 the center, 8 the cross feed screw, and 9 the front apronof the carriage whereby the hand and automatic feedin'g devices are carried.

The milling attachment forming the subjectwmatter of the present invention isl adapted to be supported directly upon the lathe carriage 2. The attachment is provided with a base member 10, which takes the 'place of the usual compound rest and which is vsecured tothe carriage by a screw 11, which forms a part of the crossfeed lug 12 of the carriage. .The base 10 of the milling attachment supports a vertical frame or standard B, and it further serves as a supv port for an outrigger C, between which and the standard the gear blank Dis secured, as will hereinafter be described.

The standard B consists of a base section 13, a pair of side frames 14 and a front frame 15, on the face of which is formed a dovetailed guide 16. Carried by the guide is a sliding block 17, and forming a partof said block is a bearing member 18 in which is journalled a spindle 19, see Figs. 1, 5 and 7. The forward end of the spindle, or that portion which projects through the sliding block 17, is provided with a tapered socket- 2O which is adapted to receive the shank or tapered end of a mandrel 21; this mandrel being provided as a support for the gear blank D, or other work handled by the milling attachment.

The milling attachment is particularly adapted for cutting spur gears and the like, and is for this reason provided with an indexingv head,A generally indicated at E, whereby the spacing of the teeth and the depth of the same l,may be accurately determined and adjusted. The indexing head consists of an indexing gear 22, see Figs. 3 and 4, a feed lever 23, and an adjustable stop mechanism, consisting of a pair of screws as indicated at 24 and 25. The indexing gear, together with the feed lever 23, is removable with relation to the spindle` to permit 1ndexing gears having an increasedA or decreased number of teeth, etc., to be placed thereon. The indexing gear is for this reason secured to a flange 26 formed on the spindle by means of screws 27, and the feed lever is secured by means of a nut carried by a threaded extension 28. The range of movement as far as the feed lever is concerned is determined by the position of the v stop screws 24 and 25, and the distance between the sam'e depends upon the size of the teeth being cut. in the blank D and thespacing formed between the same. n the present instance the indexing gear is provided with eighty teeth and we will suppose that the gear blank D when completed is to contain twenty teeth. If'this is the case it 1s obvious that the feeding lever 23 will be moved a distance of fourl teeth as four divided into eighty will give twenty. To insure a spacing of four teeth, it is only necessary to adjust the screws 24 and 25 so that the lever 23 will move just the specified distance. This is accomplished as follows:

A pointer or indicating arm is employed as indicated at 29. This has a pointing tooth 30. The feed lever carries a tooth or pawl as indicated at 31 and this pawl is movable into and out of engagement with the teeth of the indexing gear so that movement will be imparted to the indexing gear in `fone direction only. Means are therefore provided whereby the lpawl 31 is automatically disengageil fwh'en .the feed lever is Leraars turned in one direction, and similarly engaged when the feed lever is turned in the opposite direction. The pawl proper is slidably mountd on the rear side of the lever 23 as shown in Fig. 4, and it is provided with a pin 32, which projects through a slot 33 in the feed lever, and then enters a slot 34 formed in a cam or eccentric member 35. rlhis cam or eccentric is pivotally attached to the lever as at 36 and it is provided with a lever extension 37 so positioned as to engage the stop screws 24 and 25 during movement of the lever 23. Engagement of the arm 37 with the screw 25 turns the eccentric to a position where the pawl 31 is projected into engagement with the teeth of the indexing gear. Movement will therefore be imparted to the indexing gear and the spindle 19 when the lever is turned in the direction of the arrow, see Fig. 3, but disengagement will take place the moment the stop screw 24 is encountered as reverse movement will be imparted to the eccentric and the pawl will then be extracted orrdisengaged. The lever is lthus freely returned to its normal position, shown in Fig. 3, Where engagement is again made with the teeth of the indexing gear when the handle 37 encounters the screw 25. The lever 23 is therefore free to move lin one direction without imparting movement to the indexing gear and the spindle 19, and it will conversely form a positive drive therefor when swung in the opposite direction. This is important as it materially lessens the responsibility of the operator and entirely eliminates any mistakes once a proper setting and adjustment has been made, and accurate work can in this manner be accomplished without skilled labor or particular attention or care on the part of the operator as the only work requlring careful adjustment is that of first setting the indexing head.

lf a gear blank is to be. cut as shown at D in Fig. 1, anarbor such as indicated at 2l is employed. This arbor is passed through the hub off the blank and its forward or tapered end enters the socket 20 of the spindle 19. A driving connection is in this manner formed and simultaneously a rigid support is provided. A series of spacing washers are then placed over the mandrel and a nut applied as indicated at 40. To further secure the blank and the arbor the outer end of the arbor is passed through a block 41, which is vertically adjustable in the Outrigger C and it is here rigidly secured and clamped by means of a nut 42. The arbor 21 is in this manner rigidly supported at both ends and chattering or rough cutting of the blank is thus prevented.

As previously stated it is possible to adjust the indexing head to cut any number of teeth desired in the blank D. Once this adjustment has been made it is obvious that lllll it is also necessary to determine the depth of the cut. Thisl is accom' lished by adjusting the-feed screw, general indicated at 43, see Fi s. 1, 2 and 7. plV'he feed screw is journa led between the side sections 14 of the standard B and it passes through a nut 44 secured on one side of the bearing member 18. The upper end of the screw is provided with a handle 45, see Fig. 6, an index finger 46 and a micrometer dial 47. By turning the handle vertical, movement will be imparted to the bearing 18 and the slide block 17, and as these members support the mandrel 21, it is obvious that vertical adjustment and positioning of the blank D with relation to the milling cutter indicated at F may be readily accomplished. The

milling tool employed would in the case of a s ur gear be a standard form ot' cutter, as in icated at F, and will in any instance be supported by a mandrel '50, which is driven by the spindle 5 of the lathe, that is one end of the mandrel would be ta ered to permit it to be inserted in the spindle, while the opposite end would be provided with a center to permit it tobe centered and supported by the center 7 and the tail stock 3. The milling cutter would be secured in the arbor in any suitable manner and as such would be driven by the spindle 5 and the pulley 6. One form of arbor for the support of the milling cutter F is disclosed in Fig. 8, and another type of arbor is d isclosed in Fig. 5. The type shown in Fig. 8 is employed when cutting gears, whether of the spur or worm type, while a shorter arbor illustrated in Fig. 5 is employed when the work to be milled is secured and disposed on a face or angle late suchl as in-- dicated at 52, see Fig. 5. his plate maybe secured to the sliding block 17 in any suiti able manner and when so secured may be actuated. by the cross feed of the lathe or.

raised or lowered with relation to the milling cutter, thus permitting the work to be adjusted, raised, lowered etc., with relation to the milling cutter. The carriage proper supporting the milling attachment may be by the longitudinal feed and the work mayv therefore be moved in either direction with relation to the milling cutter.

When cutting worm gears as shown 1n Fig. 8, it is necessary to support the gear blank so that it will assume an angle with relation to the milling cutter. To ermit such adjustment a pivotal connection 1s f lformed between the base 10 and the base 13 of the standard B. This pivotal connection is best illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10. It consists of a centrally disposed bolt 60, about which the standard may be turned to assume an angle desired, and means are provided for securing the standard when so adjusted. This means consists of a clampingy bolt 61, which passes through a seglgether,

provided for securing the standard when so f turned; further vertical movement of the indexing head, the bearing 18 and the slide block 17 is permitted and the work supported by the sliding block, whether the an le plate 52 is attached thereto or not, wil also be permitted. Any adjusting or positioning of the device with relation to the milling cutter may in this manner be obtained. l

In actual operation we will suppose that the spur gear is being cut as indicated in Fig. 1, and that the proper adjustments for depth and number of teeth have been made. If this is the case the cross 'feed of the carriage will beconnected by engaging the cross feed clutch this being accomplished b y turning the star wheel 70 in the p roper direction. The cross feed clutch consists of two members which are slidably mounted between guide ways such as indi cated at 100. Each clutch member is pre` vided with a projectingpin such as indicated at 101 and 102. These pins project through cam slots 103 and 104 formed in a slots 103 and 104 thus engage the pins and' hold the clutch members 7 0 tothus starting the cross feed. The power feed of the lathe will then advance the cai-ria e and the milling'attachment supporte thereb crosswise of the lathe and the blank will thus be advanced with relation to the milling cutter F, and one tooth will be cut. When the star wheel is turned in the opposite direction the clutch members are separated and the feed is discontinued. For the purpose of warning the operator when the cut has been complet'ed, an alarm mechanism such as illustrated in Figs. 1, 11 and 12 has been previded. This alarm mechanism consists of a bell or gong 72 secured to the side of the base 10, A hammer 7 3 disposed interior ofthe bell is pivotally secured to a bolt or pin 74 at its upper end. A spring attached to thearm as at 75 normally holds the hammer in engagement with the belL/but means are provided for slowly raising the hammer and for suddenly releasing the same when of the the cut has been completed. This is accomplished by providing an adjustable stop 76 and a slide rod 77, which is adaptedu to engage the stop. Durin forward movement of the carriage and t e milling attacl1- ment as a whole, the forward end of the rod 7 7 will engage the stop 76 as indicated in Fig. 12 and a rocking movement will be imparted to the arm 73 of the hammer to lift this in an upward direction. This movement is transmitted through a pin 7 8 formed on the collar secured on` the rod which enga-ges a pawl or arm 79i'turnably mounted on the pin 74. A pin on the inner side of the pawl 79 engages the arm 73 and gradually raises the hammer arm. When a predetermined movement has been im` parted to the rod 77, pin 78 will pass the pawl 79 and the pawl and the arm will thus be releasedl and the bell will be struck by the hammer due to the rapid return or recoil of the spring 75. The operator is in this manner warned that the cut is completed and will then disconnect the cross feed by reversing the movement of the star wheel 70. The carriage will then be retracted, the feed lever will be advanced to turn the blank the distance of one tooth, and the cross feed will again be connected to permit the cutting of a second tooth; this operation being repeated and repeated until all of the teeth have been cut. A second spring as indicated at 8O is employed, ses Fig. 11, to permitretrograde movement rod 77 during retraction of the lathe carriage, and also to permit return movement of the plunger rod 77 that is the plunger rod is normally held in a projected position by a spring 81, and this spring is compressed during' the tripping operation of the bell. It is however automatically projected when thecar' Ams riage is retracted and is thus in proper position for operation when the gong is again sounded.

Another modification is illustrated in Figs. 13 and 14. In that instance means are provided for automatically disconnecting the cross feed when the cut has been. completed. .This is accomplished by the use of a cam 90 and a lever 91; the cam 90 being secured on the side of the base 10, while the lever 91 is pivotally attached to the carriage as at 92'. The outer end of the lever carries a rack bar 93, which is guided, as at 94, and which mesheswith a gear 95 secured on the shaft by which the star wheel is supported. The operator, when the milling attachment has been set for operation, turns the star wheel in the direction of arrow b, such turning movement engages the cross feed clutch and starts the operation. The carriage will continue feeding until the cut has been completed when the cam 90 will engage the lever 91 and rock the. same. This rocking movement is imparted to the rack bar 93 and the star wheel cross feed c utch.

While certain features of the present irivention are more or less specifically illustrated, I wish it understood that various changes in form and proportion may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims, similarly that the materials and finish of the several parts employed may be such 'as the experience. and judgment of the manufacturer may dictate or various uses may demand.

In connection with the indexing head E, by referring to Figs. 2 and 3, it will be seen that the lever 29 is pivotally mounted on the indexing headA as at 29, and it is normally held in a raised position by means of a spring 30. When so raised it is engaged by a'screw 30", which serves an important function, to-wit, that of positively locking the spindle and the gear blank D during the cut-ting operation, that is after 'a cut has been completed and the feeding lever 23 has been advanced to turn the blank for a new cut, it is essential that the blank be secured against turning movement dur. ing the next cutting operat-ion. This is accomplished by turning the screw 301 in a direction which will force the lever 29 down and thereby bring the indexing tooth 39 into engagement with the teeth of the indexing gear 22. This engagement locks the indexing gear against turning movement and as this gear is secured to the spindle through means of the screws 27 and the collar 2o, it can readily be seen that the gear blank Will be positively secured against turning movement during the cutting operation.

Having thus described my invention. what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. In combination with a lathe, of a spindle head, a supporting standard adapted to be mounted on the carriage of the lathe, a connection between said standard and the transverse feed screw in the carriage whereby turning movement of the feed screw will impart transverse movement to the standard, and means aociated with the standard and the carriage adapted to audibly announce the fact that the standard has reached the end of its travel in one direction.

2. In combination with a lathe, of a spindle head, a supporting standard adapted to be mounted on the carriage of the lathe, a connection between said standard and the transverse feed screw in the carriage whereby turning movement of the feed screw will impart transverse movement to the standard, and means associated with the standard and the apron of the lathe for automatically discontinuin the rotation of the transverse feed screw w en the standard has reached the Lend of its travel 'in one direction. y

3. In .combination with a lathe, of a milling'table adapted .to be rsupported on the carriage of the lathe, means operatively Vfor 'connecting saidmilling tablette the trans-V verse feed screw in said carriage where reciprocating movement'ma be imparted tol the said milling table, an means for audi- `bly announcingtliat the table has` reached the end of its travel in one`,direction.

4. In combination with a latheofamilling table,'the same comprising a base pla-te having a. slot formed therein 'adapted to receive the feed lu `of the lathe carriage whereby the base p ate may be guided for `movement transversely to fthe lathe bed,

means for operatively. connecting the basc i late to` the transverse feed screw in the athe carriage, a spindle head supporting standard turnably mounted on said base late, means whereby the said standard may set atany desired angle to the said base, a-spindle head mounted and guided for ver'- tieal movement in said standard, a feed 'screw engaging said spindle head, a calibrated dial, .a pointer on said feed screw associated with said dial, whereby turning movement of the feed screw will visibly indicate on the dial the amount of vertical movement imparted to the s indle head.

' 5.v In combination with a athe, of a milling table, the same comprising a base plate having a slot formed therein adapted to receive the feed lug of the lathe carriage whereby the baseplate may be ided for movement transversely to the ilthe, bed, means for operatively connecting the base lailte tothe transvers1 feled crew in the atecarri e,asin e ea su tin standard tignably pmounted on silclbas plate, means whereb the said standard may e set at any desire angle to the said base,

a spindle'head mounted and guided for ver-` A tical movement in said standard, a feed screw engaging said spindle head, a calibrated dial, a pointer on said feed screw as-` sociated with said dial Awhereby turning movement of the feed screw will visibly indicate on the dial the amount of vertical movement imparted to the spindle headta spindle mounted for turning movement 1n said spindle head, means` for imparting a predetermined amount of turning movement to said spindle, and means for lockingsaid spindle in a set position.. 1

6. In a-milling attachment of thefcharacter described the combination with the' slide block' and the spindle head carried thereby, of a spindle turnably mounted in the head, an indexing ar secured on one end of the spindle, a mounted on the spindle with relation to the indexing gear, a pawl carried by the lever and engageable 'with the teeth of the inacter described' the combination with the ed lever turnably 'dexing gear, an eccentriccarried by the slide block and the spindle head carried' thereby, of a spindle t'urnably mounted in the head, an indexing gear secured .on one end of the s indle, a feed lever turnably `mounted-on t e spindle with relation to the indexing gear, a pawl carried by 4the lever and engageable with the teeth of the indexing gear, an eccentric carried by the lever and connected with the pawl, a lever extension on said eccentric, a pair of ad- 'ustable stop screws with which said lever is engageable, said lever imparting a turning movement tothe eccentric when en gaging one stop screw to retract the. pawl with relation to the teeth of the indexing gear, and.` conversely imparts a. turning movement to the eccentric which w11l project the pawl into engagement with 'the teeth when engagement is 'made with the opposite' stop screw, a second pivotally mounted lever, a tooth formed thereon, means for normally maintaining said lever in a raised position with relation to the indexing ear, and manually actuated means for epressing the lever to bring the tooth formed thereon .into engagement with the teeth of the indexirg-.fean -1 MANLE CHAPLIN. 

